HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – A late Bethune-Cookman rally fell just short Saturday afternoon as the Wildcats stumbled 70-62 away to Alabama A&M in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Women's Basketball game played inside the AAMU Event Center.
 

FIRST QUARTER
Bethune-Cookman (9-18, 6-9 SWAC) took control early and maintained its advantage throughout the opening quarter, leading Alabama A&M 21-15 after the first 10 minutes of play. The Wildcats established their presence immediately as freshman guard Janessa Kelley knocked down a three-pointer and subsequent free throw to give BCU a quick 4-0 lead with a rare four-point play. Chanelle McDonald proved to be a force early, scoring six points in the first period while dominating the glass with five rebounds, including three on the offensive end.
 
Alabama A&M (19-8, 12-3 SWAC) answered with the help of Kaila Walker when she registered a three-pointer of her own to keep the Bulldogs within striking distance. However, the B-CU offense shot 53.8 percent from the field in the quarter, despite the homestanding Bulldogs hitting two (2) three-pointers in the period.
 
The visitors would close the quarter strong, culminating in Kayla White's three-pointer off an assist from Kelley with 49 seconds left that gave the Wildcats their largest lead at 20-12. The Dogs' Darian Burgin would score the final points of the quarter, converting a traditional three-point play to settle the margin at six points.
 
SECOND QUARTER
Alabama A&M flipped a six-point deficit into a two-point halftime advantage in a pivotal second quarter, outscoring Bethune-Cookman 20-12 to take a 35-33 lead into the locker room at the break. The Bulldogs' comeback saw the hosts connect on 50 percent shooting from the field (7-14) and a perfect 3-for-3 clip from the free-throw line. Kaila Walker provided the spark from beyond the arc, draining a pair of three-pointers as part of her team-high six points in the quarter.
 
Bethune-Cookman started strong, with the Wildcats building their lead to 25-17 at the 7:43 mark following Kelley's floating jumper and freshman center Mya Johnson's layup up and off the glass. However, AAMU responded with an 8-0 run, highlighted by Jaiyah Harris-Smith's game-tying three-pointer with 5:34 remaining.
 
The teams traded leads over the course of the next five minutes.
 
Kayla Clark powered the Cats with six points in a 3 of 4 shooting touch from the floor, but AAMU's bench proved decisive, outscoring B-CU's reserves, 9-2. Aniya Palmer came off the bench to score five points for the Bulldogs, including a three-point play in the final minute that gave AAMU its final margin.
 
THIRD QUARTER
The quarter began with Kelley hitting a three-pointer to give the Wildcats their only lead of the period at 36-35.
 
However, Alabama A&M quickly responded, as the Bulldogs gradually built their advantage throughout the frame.
 
AAMU rode Kaila Walker, who scored six points in the quarter including a timely floating jumper with 51 seconds remaining that pushed the lead to 55-47. Walker finished the quarter with 13 points overall. The Bulldogs defense held B-CU to just 33.3 percent shooting (5-for-15) while converting 47.1 percent (8 of 17) of their own attempts.
 
The Dogs controlled the tempo, maintaining the lead for over nine minutes of the quarter. Jaiyah Harris-Smith orchestrated the offense effectively for Alabama A&M, dishing out three assists. The Bulldogs also got valuable contributions from their bench, which outscored Bethune-Cookman's reserves 9-0 in the period. The Wildcats were also plagued by seven turnovers in the quarter, which Alabama A&M converted into points.
 
FOURTH QUARTER
The Bulldogs opened the fourth quarter with momentum when Mailyn Wilkerson drained a three-pointer assisted by Walker, extending their lead to 58-47. B-CU's Clark answered with a basket of her own, before AAMU maintained control through the middle stages of the quarter, pushing its advantage to 62-51 on a Wilkerson layup with an even six minutes showing on the clock.
 
Bethune-Cookman mounted a late rally in the final five minutes. Nicholson's impressive effort on the glass for B-CU saw the Ohio native secure six boards in the period alone
 
The Wildcats steadily chipped away at the deficit, with junior forward Asianae Nicholson converting both free throws to cut the lead to seven. A three-pointer from Janessa Kelley – her fourth of the contest, with 1:16 left brought B-CU within striking distance at 64-60.
 
However, the Dogs would eventually seal the win from the charity stripe. Lauryn Pendleton and Walker combined to sink six free throws in the final 26 seconds. Walker, who finished the quarter with 17 points, made all four of her attempts during this stretch.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Alabama A&M was led in scoring by Walker with 17, finishing the afternoon shooting 6 of 15 from the field (3-for-11 from three-point range), as well as adding four assists. Pendleton contributed 12 points, five boards and two assists.
 
B-CU was anchored by the scoring of Kelley with 15, knocking down four (4) three-pointers overall. Clark turned in an all-around performance with 12 points, seven rebounds, five assists and two blocked shots. McDonald had 10 points and six rebounds. And it was Nicholson with another double-double – her eighth consecutive of its kind, finishing with 10 points and 15 rebounds.
 


Bethune-Cookman next hosts Grambling State to Richard V. Moore Gymnasium in Daytona Beach on Thursday, Feb. 27, at 7 p.m.
 


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